Overview – the National Interest Test Why have there been changes to the NIT statement? The ARC revised the NIT in response to sector feedback and a Ministerial Directive to make it clearer, simpler and more accessible. From 1 December 2022, NIT statements must be written in plain English for a general public audience, explaining the value of the proposed research to Australia beyond academia. Key changes are outlined in the table below. What changed? Change Original National Interest Test Revised National Interest Test Word limit Up to 150 words Up to 200 words Questions to address What is the project about? Describe the project in 1-2 sentences. What are the expected outcomes of the project? What gap is it addressing? How will the research benefit Australia (economically, socially, environmentally, commercially, or culturally)? How might the research be used? What translation and adoption pathway(s) might be used to achieve the outcome? For example, are there conditions that would need to be in place for the outcome to occur? If so, briefly describe them. What is the project about and what research gap is it addressing for Australia? How could the research benefit Australians (economically, socially, environmentally, commercially, or culturally)? How might you promote your research outcomes beyond academia to maximise understanding, translation, use and adoption of the research in future? Consideration of the NIT The NIT assessment is undertaken by the ARC CEO, separately to the peer assessment process. The NIT statements are a critical part of the funding recommendations to the Minister. This is in addition to the processes that consider due diligence, eligibility, and peer review assessment of applications. The ARC CEO is assisted in assessing NITs by ARC Executive Directors who are experts from academia, each responsible for a range of disciplines. The Executive Directors may undertake the first assessment of the NIT and seek revisions and they are then subsequently considered by the CEO who may also seek revisions. The ARC CEO must be satisfied with the NIT before submitting to the Minister. The Minister makes the final decision. University DVCRs will certify in the application form that the NIT statement addresses the three considerations in plain English and is directed towards the public audience. The NIT will be provided to assessors as an input to the peer review process. Finally, the NIT will be provided to the Minister or ARC Accountable Authority who makes the final decision on grant funding. Advice for DVCRs certifying the National Interest Test Certifying a National Interest Test (NIT) statement Deputy Vice Chancellors of Research (DVCRs) must certify that each NIT statement: Is written in plain English Is suitable for a general public audience Answers the three key questions required: What is the project about and what research gap is it addressing for Australia? How could the research benefit Australians (economically, socially, environmentally, commercially, or culturally)? How might you promote your research outcomes beyond academia to maximise understanding, translation, use and adoption of the research in future? One certified, the ARC accepts the NIT as final and includes it in the application submitted for funding consideration. Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between the National Interest Test and other application components (i.e., project summary, criteria) in the application? The NIT differs from other application components in its audience and purpose. It explains the benefits of the proposed research beyond academia to to those who fund that research: the public. Why do I have to produce a National Interest Test statement? Since all NCGP funding is ultimately provided by the public, the government and the research community are both accountable to taxpayers for the funds allocated under the NGCP. TNIT helps show the broader impact of research being undertaken to Australian taxpayers. Will NITs be peer reviewed? The NIT is shared with assessors as an input when they are considering each application in the peer assessment process. This will complement the existing consideration of the broader national benefit that is currently in the peer review process. My DVCR has requested a revision of my NIT, but their feedback is unclear. What do I do? The Applicant is ultimately the university not the individual researcher, so the responsibility for the final application is with the university. Contact your Research Office if you have questions in the first instance. Will an application for funding be rejected if my NIT is not certified by my DVCR? Yes. Your grant application must include a NIT certified by your DVCR and will not be able to be submitted without the NIT and the certification. How do I get training in writing a National Interest Test statement? Reach out to your university’s Research Office or communications team in the first instance. Universities often hold workshops on how to write grant applications and how to speak to general public audiences about your research. Does the National Interest Test statement for my project need to result in a commercial outcome? No. The NIT asks applicants to explain how their proposal would deliver a societal benefit. The ARC recognises that these benefits may be economic, commercial, environmental, social, or cultural.The NIT recognises all pathways to utilisation, adoption, translation, or commercialisation equally and does not prioritise any sector and field of study. Translation and adoption is not only for applied research and is not limited to commercialisation. Examples of utilisation, translation, and adoption of research in HASS include informing public debate, shaping policy, developing resources for the community, sharing expertise, or producing exhibitions, education programs and events. Remember, the outcomes are speculative so you are able to say the ‘outcomes might' or 'outcomes could be’. Over what period of time should my response on utilisation, adoption and translation be focussed? There is no set period. We recognise that for many projects, the pathway to adoption will be longer than for others, and as such, the period of time for adoption or translation may be beyond that of the grant. Researchers are therefore not expected to provide a timeline. Rather, the NIT statement should describe in general terms, how this project can be built upon by future researchers, and potentially translated, adopted, or commercialised. If the NIT statement mentions medical technology applications, is this used for eligibility purposes? No. You may include information on potential medical outcome(/s) in the NIT because you are describing potential long-term outcomes of the research beyond the grant period. Can I mention academic or knowledge generation in the National Interest Test statement? How do I articulate a benefit for fundamental research? The NIT cannot be solely focused on knowledge generation as the primary outcome. However, this does not prevent applicants from proposing fundamental or ‘blue-sky’ research. Given the uncertainty and long timelines often associated with fundamental research, NIT statements should provide a reasonable and honest assessment of possible societal benefits, such as: Advancing globally relevant science through international collaboration Guiding future research directions Training the next generation of researchers Some examples of fundamental research projects: National Interest Test statements. My application has an international focus, will it be assessed as not delivering in the ‘national interest’? Even though the application may have an international focus, applicants should be clear on how the research outcomes could benefit Australia. You may consider pathways through additional utilisation and partnerships and that we operate in a global environment and benefits to a member of our community may well be the same for all countries. My research has a specific application that is not relevant outside its field. How do I identify the national interest of my research? Applicants are encouraged to consider who will be empowered by the research. Successful research will generally empower people to accomplish a goal. This may include: For fundamental discovery, the research may empower the international research community, students, early career investigators, or other academics. Research with an obvious pathway to translation and adoption will empower industry to address a specific challenge. In other cases, research could empower government, the not-for-profit sector, or individual communities to address local, national, or international challenges.